Like many Lake County residents, Dennis Smith first visited the area on vacation with his parents. Unlike most of us, however, Smith developed an interest in accounting and the labyrinthine tax code. So after many years working numbers as an accountant in Lower Lake and Lakeport, Smith passed the courses necessary for the ins and outs of tax preparation and assistance. For the past 7 years he has been a tax advisor and serves as part of the team at H&R Block.
1. April can’t be much fun.
The tax business is fun. You help people. And April is the end of our season. It’s stressful before, but we work together.
2. What happens the rest of the year?
The rest of the year we’re dealing with clients who have questions or issues, people who have not done taxes in a few years, reviewing past returns. We’re assisting people, that’s why we’re open all year.
3. What’s the strangest legal deduction you’ve seen?
Man, that’s a good one. Fishing lures. I had a client who won bass tournaments and he could deduct some of his lures and boat expenses. He was ecstatic when he learned that.
4. Why accounting? Why taxes?
Taxes are a puzzle. I like people and I like putting puzzles together. For me it’s a perfect job.
5. But you understand why people fear this time of year, right?
Yes. People are dealing with the unknown. They don’t understand the system, don’t understand the process. We help with that. That’s why we’re here.
6. How difficult is it to learn the tax codes?
Our initial course is four months — and that’s just the beginning of training. And with every client you learn something new.
7. Does the IRS deserve all that scorn?
No. It’s a necessary evil The things we have today are paid for by that process.
8. Is there anything worse than receiving an audit notice? Maybe living in Detroit?
Year round? No, probably not. But we’re open and we get to help people with these letters. Often just a phone call will clear things up. The knowledge of what to do in such cases is what we provide.
9. What is the one thing most people don’t understand about taxes?
Oh, that’s all over the charts. But probably earned income credit and, if you own your own business, self employment tax. That’s actually going into social security.
10. So on April 16th …
I usually go out in my boat and get it out of my head.
